Question 1

What's the most cost-effective marketing for small businesses?

Accepted Answer

Start with free/low-cost high-impact tactics: Google Business Profile optimization, collecting reviews, basic local SEO, email marketing to existing customers, and referral programs. Once these foundations are set, invest in targeted Google Ads and content marketing for sustainable growth.

Question 2

How much should a small business spend on marketing?

Accepted Answer

General guideline: 5-10% of revenue for maintenance, 10-20% for growth. New businesses may need higher percentages initially. More important than the percentage is measuring ROI and investing more in what works. Track cost-per-lead and cost-per-customer for each channel.

Question 3

Should I hire a marketing agency or do it myself?

Accepted Answer

Consider: your available time, expertise level, and cost of your time. DIY works for basic tactics if you can dedicate consistent hours. Agencies provide expertise, tools, and execution but cost more upfront. Many businesses start DIY for foundations, then hire specialists for advanced tactics like SEO or paid ads.

Question 4

How do I market my business with no budget?

Accepted Answer

Focus on free high-impact tactics: fully optimize Google Business Profile, ask every happy customer for a review, post consistently on social media, network locally, seek referral partnerships, contribute to local community groups, leverage email marketing to existing contacts, and create helpful content.

Question 5

What marketing mistakes do small businesses make?

Accepted Answer

Common mistakes: spreading budget too thin across channels, not tracking results, ignoring Google Business Profile, slow lead response, inconsistent effort, no clear target audience, chasing trends over fundamentals, neglecting existing customers, and expecting instant results from long-term strategies like SEO.

Small Business Marketing